Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-12-23

youthful chieffain. in all the glory of
his trappings and war-paint, was meek
y led along by the ear in the direction
of the pate-aal wi@wam, to the un-
smother~H..c delight of about twenty
Bixport boys who were playing base
ball on the green, near the deacon :
house.
Meanwhile, Tad and Polly made
their way home more slowly. BY this
time the two had become great fricnd-,
and were never at loss for converse
ton while together. Tad told his CON
panion all about his life at Mis-
Smiths. How Samantha had taught
him to milk Sukey, the Jersey COW, and
even instructed him in the art of
grooming White-face, the family horse.
that was said to be about twenty-five
years old. Then, Miss Smith had
shown him all about planting the veg
etable garden and wedding fower-beds.
She told Samantha (who told Tad)
that he was by all odds the best help
that had ever worked for her, and, con-
sidering he was boy-Miss Smith
cherishing rooted antipathy to the
generality of boys-she wasn't so sure
but that she could say that she almost
liked him.
I'm sure l like her ever so much, :"
| added Tad, in rather unusual burst
of confidence. "and folks that think she
is grumpy and cross don't know her
that's ALL"
perhaps she'll adopt you some day,
Tad" suggested Polly, laughing a lit
tie at the idea of grim-visaged Miss
Smith with an adopted son.
81 wish she would" returned Tad,
with simple earnestness; I'D give any
thing to have some one kind err love
me, like your folks do you-even though
they wasn't my very own. l tell you,
Polly" said Tad, sorrowfully, '.this
having to drift around without any
home, and nobody to care what hap
pens to you, isn't the incest thing in
the world"
Polly was about returning a sympa-
thizing answer; but, catchinga glimpse
of Captain Flagg rolling heavily along
in the distance, Tad and his conf
dences were momentarily forgotten.
There's father!" she exclaimed, de-
lightedly, and with Bounce barking at
her heels, Polly ran tlectly down the
plank sidewalk to meet him.
"She's got somebody" thought Tad,
wistfully, and then with little sigh he
turned into Miss Smiths neatly kept
aower-yard, where the pansies and old
fashioned garden-lilies seemed to nod
him friendly welcome.
There was nothing particular for him
to do, and, sitting down on the edge Of
the piazza. Tad fell into a brown study
lie was good deal perplexed as to
whether he had better confide his sus.
picions that Mr.. Forrest was also Mr.
Jones, and presumably Mr. Edwards
also, to Miss Smith and Captain Flagg,
or wait till he had more positive proof
my word wouldn't 60 very fal
against his smooth tongue" thought
Tad, as he mechanically unfolded the
copy Of the paper that had probably
dropped from the pocket of the subject
of his meditations, and which Tad had
been holding in his hands all the while.
"Why, what! 1t can't be!'' Tad
exclaimed, all at once, as his eye fell
npon conspicuously printed notice,
headed: "FiUe Hundred Dollars Re
ward!" And, the better to take in the
meaning, he read it over again aloud.
Following the offered reward was this
announcement:
1.-THE above sum will be pad, and no ques
tons asked, for the return of a small alligator
skin sachel with nickel-e,ated trimmings and
| lock, together with conteiDs OF the same. SAID
sachel was left, by mistake, in one of the seats
| OF the Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, the
| evening Of March 49, 1877, and was taken there
from by q boy Of about fourteen, shabbily
dressed, with dark hair and eyes.
Address. or call lipon J. II. a., 1917 Oldtowr
Street, Boston, Mass
"Well, I should say it could ber
said the sharp voice of Miss Smith,
who, having heard Tad's exclamation
had stepped cant on the piazza, un
noticed by Tad.